Published on May 13, 2005

Health Ministry names May 23-27 as ‘Anti-Dengue Fever Week’; insect-eradication, information activities planned

Trying to pre-empt a full-fledged epidemic of dengue fever, the Public Health Ministry announced yesterday it would launch a five-day mosquito-eradication campaign nationwide.

The ministry has designated May 23 to 27 as “Anti-Dengue Fever Week”, during which health workers and volunteers will strive to exterminate mosquitoes and their larvae, Public Health Minister Suchai Charoenratanakul said. The ministry hopes to halve the number of mosquitoes across the country, he added.

The campaign comes in response to the increasing threat of a nationwide epidemic during the rainy season between June and August, when an infestation of mosquitoes is expected to descend bearing the virus. Dengue haemorrhagic fever can incapacitate patients for long periods of time and, in severe cases, result in death.

Aside from eradicating mosquitoes, the Public Health Ministry will ally with the Education Ministry to conduct an information campaign in schools and colleges.

As a further preventive measure, a disease-control team will be deployed to areas found to be at heightened risk of dengue fever, Suchai said. Teams will be tasked with trying to contain the disease by spraying insecticide in the vicinity of reported new cases.

From the start of the year until the end of last month, at least 7,215 cases of dengue fever have been reported from around the country, with 14 fatalities.

Phumiphat “Nong Phum” Pholsomboonchok, a 13-year-old boy treated at Bangkok’s Ramathibodi Hospital for a virulent form of dengue haemorrhagic fever, succumbed to the disease on Wednesday. Suffering from severe internal bleeding, the boy was in a coma for almost a week before he died. His case has sparked renewed public alarm about the dangers of contracting dengue fever.

Health authorities are investigating if the strain of the virus that claimed the boy’s life belonged to a dangerous new mutation in the virus. Results are expected to be announced within a week.

People who suspect that they or their loved ones may have contracted dengue fever can call two 24-hour hotlines for information and assistance: (09) 204 5522 and (09) 204 2255.

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